Players Who Scored Most Hat-Tricks for a National Team: In this article, we’ll talk about some amazing soccer players who have done something very special for their home countries. These players are like soccer legends, and what they’ve done is impressive.
Players Who Scored Most Hat-Tricks for a National Team
These players have had incredible careers, and their hat-tricks show just how good they are. They’re a big inspiration to soccer players all around the world, and what they’ve achieved will be remembered for a long time.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
| Number Of Hat-Tricks | 10 |
|---|---|
| Career | 2013–2021 |
| Country | Portugal |
Cristiano Ronaldo made history on October 12, 2021, when he scored three goals against Luxembourg in a 5-0 victory. This broke a record that had stood for nearly 90 years. Before Ronaldo, the record for the most hat-tricks for a national team was held by Sven Rydell of Sweden, who had 9 hat-tricks in 1932. Ronaldo didn’t stop there; he scored another hat-trick against the Republic of Ireland in September 2021, making it a total of 10 hat-tricks for Portugal.
But that’s not all. Ronaldo is not just a record-setter in hat-tricks; he’s also the all-time top scorer in men’s international football. He’s found the back of the net 128 times in 206 matches. This remarkable achievement surpassed the previous record held by Ali Daei of Iran, who had 114 goals.
Ronaldo’s ability to score goals is truly incredible, and his record-breaking achievements are a clear testament to his exceptional skill and unwavering commitment to the sport. He’s widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football, and his legacy is bound to continue growing for many years to come.
2. Sven Rydell
| Number Of Hat-Tricks | 9 |
|---|---|
| Career | 1924–1932 |
| Country | Sweden |
Sven Rydell was a Swedish soccer player who played as a forward. He’s widely regarded as one of the best Swedish players ever. He made an impressive 43 appearances for the Swedish national team and scored a total of 49 goals, which included 9 hat-tricks. His record of 9 hat-tricks held strong for a remarkable 89 years until Cristiano Ronaldo broke it in 2021.
Rydell was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, back in 1905. He began his soccer journey with a local club Holmens IS from 1920 to 1924. Later, he moved to Örgryte IS in 1925, and he also had a stint with Redbergslids IK during his career.
3. Lionel Messi
| Number Of Hat-Tricks | 9 |
|---|---|
| Career | 2012–2023 |
| Country | Argentina |
Lionel Messi did something remarkable on March 29, 2023. He scored three goals against Curaçao in a 7-0 victory, and this achievement tied him with Sven Rydell of Sweden, who had 9 hat-tricks for the national team. What’s even more exciting is that Messi is still playing for Argentina, and there’s a good chance he might break the record and reach 10 hat-tricks for his national team.
Messi’s ability to score goals is truly amazing, and his record-breaking feats are clear proof of his incredible talent and unwavering commitment to the game. He’s undoubtedly one of the greatest goal-scorers in the world, and his legacy continues to grow.
4. Poul Nielsen
| Number Of Hat-Tricks | 8 |
|---|---|
| Career | 1913–1921 |
| Country | Denmark |
Poul Nielsen was widely regarded as one of the best Danish players ever. He made 38 appearances for the Danish national team and scored an impressive 52 goals, including 8 hat-tricks. His record of 8 hat-tricks was unbroken for 11 years until Sven Rydell of Sweden surpassed it in 1932.
Nielsen was exceptionally good at scoring goals throughout his career. He managed to score an impressive total of 276 goals in 201 appearances for his club teams. Alongside his club success, he also contributed 52 goals in 38 appearances for the Danish national team.
5. Ali Daei
| Number Of Hat-Tricks | 8 |
|---|---|
| Career | 1996–2004 |
| Country | Iran |
Ali Daei scored 8 international hat-tricks during his career. He was a tall forward known for his ability to score goals using his head and being good in the air. At one point, he held the title of being the world’s top international goalscorer with 108 goals, but in 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo broke that record.
Outside of soccer, Daei was recognized for his humanitarian efforts. In 2001, he became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, showing his commitment to helping children around the world. After retiring from playing, Daei continued to contribute to soccer. He served as a member of the FIFA Football Committee from 2007 to 2013. His contributions to the sport were acknowledged when he was inducted into the Asian Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
6. Pelé
| Number Of Hat-Tricks | 7 |
|---|---|
| Career | 1958–1964 |
| Country | Brazil |
Pelé is often seen as the best footballer ever, and his 7 hat-tricks for Brazil show just how amazing he was at scoring goals. One of his most unforgettable moments was during the 1958 World Cup semi-final against France, where he scored a hat-trick, helping Brazil win 5-2 and secure their first World Cup title.
In his career, Pelé scored a mind-blowing total of 1,279 goals. Among those, 767 were for his club, Santos, and 77 were for the Brazilian national team. That makes him the top goal-scorer of all time in both club and international football. Pelé’s incredible goal-scoring abilities will be remembered for generations to come.
